Pitta Kathalu Pinky Ending Was Not That: Sankalp Reddy

Netflix’s first Telugu original Pitta Kathalu is all set to be premiered tomorrow. With all the talented actors and directors, Pitta Kathalu is already riding high on expectations. Eesha Rebba’s ‘Pinky’ is one of the Pitta Kathalu anthologies and here we have the extremely talented Krish learning the experiences from the team in an exclusive interview. Krish watched ‘Pinky’ and he gave some inputs and suggestions as well to the director Sankalp Reddy. Watch the round table with Pitta Kathalu Pinky and here is the excerpt of the whole interview.

Krish: I am very excited about one thing. Pitta Kathalu itself means a collection of story stories in which a story has one single thread otherwise a series of interlinked events are connected to become an anthology. It has the beautiful name Pitta Kathalu’. You have got a unique perspective to narrate a story. So how did you use this and what did you do in this?

Sankalp Reddy: There are stories that need to be told in 30 minutes or 35 minutes and these are possible only from limited sources. And one such source is an OTT platform. If we are narrating a story on OTT, it should go on a wide scale. When Netflix came forward to make it happen, we all had the challenge to tell a story that can reach more than 190 countries, multiple languages.

To narrow it down, we decided to go with a woman-centric story, so it can reach and tell the story of a woman who can show her strength and weakness.

Krish: In realistic dynamics, a woman deciding what her liberation is by putting the limits and enigmas aside, is what I did not expect. I was a little surprised by that. I felt it is wonderful. Eesha how did you approach this one? This brilliant character? Everybody needs some story, some character is required. How did you use this character for yourself?

Eesha: The stories I usually hear are hero-centric and they narrate my part as bubby, cute, and all. But when Sankalp narrated it to me, I could see the struggle and point of view of the girl and I really liked it. We did not have many movies showing any character like that so far. When these kinds of movies come on these platforms there would be a wider reach.

The audience may feel a little discomfort while watching this. Putting aside the factor of being a Telugu girl, any girl for that matter, society still feels that this kind of role is not normal for a woman to do. But at the same time, there is no problem if a hero has two heroines by his side. If a woman does that, society judges her quickly. So if there are more stories of this sort coming up, it would become normal.

Krish: I am telling this as a person who watched it. The way he captured, directed and the way you performed, was totally balanced on a thin line between romance and vulgarity. And the way he portrayed was very beautiful actually.

But the woman’s internal agony and the struggle which she can’t share with anyone, also not knowing if it is taboo or not, her internal friction is a brilliant thing.

Krish (to Avasarala Srinivas): Every actor wants to get something from a role, What did you get from it? Don’t say that you got money. (laughs). The balance between Eesha and you, the entire thing, especially towards the climax with the three of you, I loved it actually. What did you take from this role?

Avasarala: This the second time working with Sankalp. There are two kinds of directors according to me, one who conducts like music conductor and they control every emotion with the highs and lows and they orchestrate the whole thing. The second one I know Sankalp, who gives a lot of freedom to actors. He gave the script and asks to come up with my own thing. And you ask him questions and he asks you questions back.

Krish (to Eesha): He is a pure and sensitive person and as a contrast to that, she is pure in her own way and sensitive to herself. When she is doing both, it is a complete contrast. You are like a blossomed flower there. All over basically. In your first scene itself, your costumes, your car drive, the return from shopping, and at the same time when you go to visit Srini, both the variations, you really knocked out of the park. So, in this sense, how did you approach Satya’s factor and how did you approach Srini’s?

Eesha: I always had a little confusion before getting involved in a character. I need some time to get into the character. But when there are good actors like Satya and Srini, I discuss more with them on how we can improvise. When I was doing with Satya, there was a fight. I have done that and behaved exactly like the way Pinky would have done. I imagined being really Pinky. I could relate to that character, her stress and the confusion, the anger and I could feel all that. And when I come back to Srini, the irritation about the life and all.

Krish: For no reason! That’s the beauty when you both are in the same frame

Eesha: Also the frustration in why Satya is not answering the calls is also shown on Srini. That’s the beauty of Pinky.

Krish (to Avasarala): These are all real things that actually happen behind the doors in society. Satya and Eesha’s story has a lot to perform, but it is very difficult for you to take back and stay back and trying to do that one. What did you draw from it?

Avasarala: When I read the script, I did not know how to approach it. When did I ask Sankalp why is this? He said he is the person who does this. So instead of many times, the tendency is to not stick to what is written and sometimes go beyond it. If you stick to the notes and see whatever is written in between the lines, I mean he is that person that endures even when the girl doesn’t respond to his feelings. He puts up with it, no complaining, nothing. And that’s how some people are and I think that’s what it is.

Krish (to Ashima): The way you performed, there is a lot of pain. That trying to show everything is under the carpet kind of thing. How did you approach this and what is your take on this?

Ashima Narwal: I remember when I went to the sets on the first day, I was very nervous. Even though I prepared for the script, still there was confusion. I went to Sankalp and said I am feeling very nervous and I am very confused. Then Sankalp said ‘Ashima, even I am very nervous and confused’! (laughs)

Krish (to Sankalp): But never tell that to your producer (laughs)

Avasarala: The producer will also say ‘I am very nervous.’

Ashima: I was feeling a sense of panic. I wasn’t sure how I approach it. Thanks to Sankalp, he helped me go through it.

Krish (to Ashima): You guys played as if you guys married ten times. And living behind those doors for ‘n’ number of years then you know it was so natural actually. I have to congratulate you on that.

Krish (to Sankalp): A lot of credit has to go for your writing Sankalp. Nandu and your writing were brilliant. Super engaging and at the same time the subtexts are really great. How did you approach this writing?

Sankalp: All these characters are believable characters. Either we come across them in an article or papers or would have heard of them in gossips. I and Nandi sat together and we wrote a version. We kept filtering and filtering it and then it came to you. Based on your inputs, we went for another round and then sent it to Netflix. They gave us few inputs and we added them also. The most important thing, our movie ending was not that we wrote in the script. There we added few lines in the beginning and end.

Krish: Before going for the background music, we added it and which really made an impact. You have put a beautiful essence of life in it. You have watched the remaining stories as well. How do you compare this entire Pitta Kathalu?

Sankalp: Our four stories, when we sat together for the first time, we thought of showing women empowerment, the power of a struggle, power of strength, or anything in that line. We thought of that first and we went on our own way with different stories. We we are done with the stories and after the post-production, we saw the stories of each other at the sound mixing.

There is one strong point in all these stories. Each woman tells a Pitta Katha in a direct or indirect way. All the stories are in the same line of thought but every woman goes through a different journey. All the women who are in the story are going through a different phase and all the men in a way are either affected or punished in some way. (Balli Ka Bakra aitharu Po).

Krish: How is this going to be useful in terms of your career or in terms of narrating new stories?

Sankalp: We have got an option to explore, not just for me. This gives confidence for the new, fresh or existing directors to write stories in thirty minutes and film them as well. This gives hope.

Krish (to Eesha); How are going to take this? How are you going to multiply it?

Eesha: Many will watch and know that it is a first of its kind story in Telugu. This going to be released in 190 countries and also will be dubbed into different languages. So we have more exposure now.

Krish (to Avasarala): So people are flocking to the theaters and that is the main entertainment area. And we have another additional medium, OTT. How are we going to ride on both these platforms?

Avasarala: As far as I know, It is good that we are watching movies at home. That gives a lot of flexibility for us to watch. If I have to commit 2 hours, 3 hours at a time, I will do it at my will. And that also gives a little flexibility for the storyteller. All they have to do is make them watch for two minutes, three minutes and if they want to watch the fourth minute then your skill is a test. Your art is at the test. So, people will watch the movie once, it is on there. So every film will find its audience. And but, for people like us theater is our first love. Probably I can see both happening.

Krish: Yeah, co-existing basically. As you said, after watching the first four or five minutes it decides. But, I have watched Pitta Kathalu, since I have seen this story as well, in the first two minutes, in fact, in the first one minute itself, you will get hooked to this and people will watch the entire thing and it will be a big big big hit. More than that, it will be helpful for all of us, to tell more brilliant stories.

All the best once again Sankalp, Eesha, Srinivas, and Ashima.